Securing device for connecting flexible members together



Oct. 7, 1941. F. M. LUND Em. 2,258,417

SECURING DEVICE FOR CONNECTING FLEXIBLE MEMBERS TOGETHER Filed Feb. '7, 1940 ms flea/11 5020 Patented Oct. 7, 1941 SECURING nEvIoE FOR CONNECTING FLEX- IBLE MEMBERS TOGETHER Fred M. Lund and John H. Lund, Chicago, 111.

Application February 7, 1940, Serial No. 317,624

1 '7 Claims.

The invention relates generally to securing devices and more particularly to devices of this nature which are especially adapted for releasably connecting or joining the flexible straps, cords or similar supporting means for wrist watches or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved means of this nature which is simple in construction, affords a convenient adjustment of the circumferential dimension of the supporting means, is quickly releasable and when released permitsof instant increase in such dimension to allow the assembly to be removed, and which cannot become accidentally disengaged.

Another object is to provide a new and improved securing means whereby the overlapping ends of flexible connecting means, such as oppositely extending cords on a wrist watch or like article, are fastened to intermediate portions of the opposite connecting means'in such manner that the article may be conveniently attached or removed.

Other objects and advantages, inherent in the structure embodying the invention, will become 7 apparent in the description and from the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a securing device embodying the features of the invention, the device being shown in closed or securing condition.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device in the initial stage of its release and illustrating a modified form of design.

' Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the device in its open or release position.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views on an enlarged scale showing the abutting faces of the sections of the separable connecting member.

Figs 6 and 8 illustrate the manner in which the separable sections are joined and show sum:-

- by suitabl securing means l3. The cords are of sufficient length to permit the free ends thereof to be brought into overlapping relation on the side of the wrist opposite the watch.

For convenience, we will refer to the article which is supported as a watch and to the flexible supporting members as cords, but it is to be understood that we do so by way of explanation, not limitation, since the present invention is well adapted for use in connection with other articles or supporting means.

Each of the free ends of the cords ll, l2 has secured thereto one part or section of a connecting member which, through another complemental section, is adjustably secured or connected to an intermediate portion of the other cord. The connecting members are so arranged that the cords may be drawn taut about the wearers wrist, or by a simple manipulation be freed for movement to vary the circumferentialv dimension of the cords. Moreover, the connecting members cooperate in maintaining each other against accidental release.

In the drawing, the connecting members are generally designated by the numerals I4 and I5, and reference will first be had to the illustrated structure ofthe right-hand member 15. This member includes a tubular shell I6 forming one section of the connecter and a second tubular shell [1- constituting the other section thereof. The section I6 has a closed end l8 and the opposite end I9 is adapted to receive the free end of the cord ll. Suitable means (not shown) is provided for securing the cord permanently to the section IS. The other section II is tubular and slidably encircles an intermediate portion of the length of the cord l2. In the present instance, the sections are pivotally connected for swinging movement between a closed or adjacent position, as shown in Fig. 1, and an open separated position, as shown in Fig. 3, and the location of the pivot is preferably such that a lateral pull on the end of'the cord l2 will swing the sections from their closed to their open relationship. As shown in Fig. '7, the pivotal connection is eiiected by providing spaced apertures in the inner and nd walls of the section Hi to provide a pintle 2| for engagement by a curl Men the section II. In Fig. 2 the section I? carries spaced ears 20 between which the pin- -t1e is supported for engagement by a curl or the like.

The casing sections are providedwith cooperating means for clamping thesection II to its associated cord [2 whenever the sections l6 and II are closed. Thus, referring to Figs. 3 and '7, the adjacent or meetingface 23 of the section '16 has an outstanding headed pin 24, or the like, secured to a central portion thereof. The pin is arranged to extend through an aperture in the opposed or meeting face 25 of the section I! and bindingly engage the cord l2 when the sections are closed. Hence, when the sections are open, the section I! may slide freely along the length of the cord 12, which movement is prevented when the sections are closed. If desired, a catch finger 21 on one of the sections, in this instance the section l6, may frictionally engage a complementary notch or recess 28 in the section I! to provide a friction latch for holding the sections in their closed relation.

The other connecting member l4 includes a pair of separable sections 29 and 30. The section 30 resembles the section I6 of the other connecting member IS in that it is tubular, has a closed end 3| and an open end 32 torec eive the free .end of the cord l2 which is fixed therein by suitable securing means (not shown). The other section 29 is also a tubular member resembling thesection I! in that it is mounted for sliding movement along the length of the cord. The section 29 carries means by which it may be clamped at various positions of adjustment along the length of the cord ll. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, outstanding bosses 33 support therebetween a bell crank lever having an elongated operating arm 34 and a short arm 35 which extends through a suitable aperturev in the wall of the section into .the possibility that a finger nail will be broken in the manipulation of th lever. If desired, such means as a finger 36 (Fig. 2.) having a nib 36 may be provided on the section 29 to extend to a position where in assembly the nib may frictionally engage an aperture in a wall of the section.-

30 to maintain th sections against accidental separation.

The sections 29 and 39 have cooperating means for connecting the sections together. Thus, the abutting or meeting face 31 of the section 29 has an outstanding pin 38 thereon provided with diametrically opposed lateral projections 39. The meeting face 40 (Fig. 5) of the section 30 has an aperture 4| therein which in outline is complemental to th contour of the pin 38 and projections 39. However, as will be noted from a comparison of Figs. 4 and 5, the aperture 4| and the pin and projections 38, 39 have an angular relation necessitatingthe insertion of the pin and projections into the aperture while the sections 29 and 30 are angularly related as shown in Fig. 6. Following such insertion, relative rotation of the sections substantially in the plane of their meeting faces to bring them into registering abutment disposes the sections in operative connected relation and engages the nib 3t with its cooperating aperture.

In operation, and prior to placing the assembly about a wearers wrist, the sections 29 and 30 are disconnected and the sections l6 and I! are.

open as shown in Fig. 3. The section I1 is slidable with respect to the cord I2 and may be moved toward the free end of the cord until it is stopped by abutment with the section 30 of the other connecting member. This expands or opens the loop to permit it to pass freely over thewearers hand. Thereafter, the wearer by grasping the section 30 may pull the cord I2 through the section I! until the desired degree of .tautness is obtained, whereupon closing of the section's i6 and I! will secure the parts in this relation. Initially, it will be necessary to adjust the section 29 to a proper position along the length of the cord I l and to secure it in this position. The location of the section 29 is such that when the connecting member I5 is closed to maintain the cords taut, as desired, the connection of the sections 29 and 30 will hold th portions of the cords between the connecting members l4 and I5, and particularly the end portion of the cord [2, under slight tension. The degree of tension in a prop- -erly adjusted device will be such that relative rotational movement of the sections 29 and 30 to a position in which they might become accidentally disconnected is restrained. Thus, the present connecting means permits of instant adjustment of the circumferential dimension of the cords and provides a. secure connection between the overlapping nds of the cords, which, being in effect a double union, is not susceptible of accidental disengagement. To remove the assembly, it is only necessary for the user relatively to rotate the sections 29 and 30 to permit disconnection thereof. Once separated, a lateral or sidewise pull by the user on the free end of the cord [2 will open the casing sections l6 and H, thereby freeing the cord l2 for sliding movement relative to the section I1. As may be seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 7, the wall 26 of the section I! that is opposite to the meeting face 26 is preferably formed to provide a convex surface over which the cord rides in its sliding movement through the section. This convex surface may be fashioned by smoothly distorting the mouth portions of the wall 26 outwardly. This convex surface insures that th cord will slip freely through the section since the mouths of the cord receiving bore are substantially larger than the cord. Moreover, the convex surface facilitates movement of the cord through the section when the user pulls on the free end of the cord l2 to tighten the assembly even though the direction of pull on the cord end is in a direction sharply angular to the rest of the cord.

It may be mentioned that there is no structural diiference between the securing means shown in Fig. 1 and that shown in Fig. 2. The connecting means of Fig. 1 has sections which are elongated, substantially square tubes designed to simulate the appearance of the strands of a rope. In the modified design shown in Fig. 2, the sections are semicircular disks which, when the sections are closed or joined, form circular disks. The bore through the section I! has an internal convex'wall similar to the wall 26 on the device'shown in Fig. 1. It will be evident that the design of the connecting means may take many forms other than the two herein illustrated.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, we have shown in the drawing and have herein described in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that we do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. Securing means of the character described comprising, in combination, a pair of flexible members having end portions arranged to be placed in substantially side by side relation, a

first connector means slidably mounted on one member inwardly of its end, a second connecter means adjustably secured to the other member inwardly of the end thereof, and means on the end of each member for connecting such end with the connecter means on the opposite member, the end means which cooperates with the slidable connecter means including means for restraining said connecter means against sliding movement.

2. In a device for detachably securing the overlapping ends of flexible cords or the like together, the combination of a member having a section secured to the end of one cord and having another section adjustable along the length of the other cord, means for detachably securing said sections in an adjacent relationship, means for preventing said adjustable movement when said sections are adjacent, a pair of separable members respectively secured to the end of said other cord and slidable on said one cord, means for clamping the slidable separable member adjustably to its associated cord, and means for detachably connecting said separable members.

3. In a device for detachably securing the overlapping ends of flexible cords or the like together, the combination of a pair of pivotally joined members respectively secured to the end of a first cord and slidable along the other cord, means for releasably securing said members in an adjacent relationship, means for preventing such sliding movement when said members are adjacent, a pair of separable members respectively secured to the end of said other cord and slidable on said first cord, means for clamping the slidable separable member adjustably to its associated cord, and means for detachably connecting said separable members, the releasable securing means for said pivotally joined members being releasable by a pull on the end of said other cord when the separable members are disconnected to free the pivotally joined member for sliding movement along said other cord.

4. In a device for detachably securing the overlapping ends of flexible cords or the like together, the combination of means at the ends of said overlapping cords for connecting the ends to intermediate portions of the other cords including a pair of pivotally joined members respectively secured to the end of one cord and slidably mounted on the other cord, means for detachably securing said members in an adjacent relationship, means for preventing such sliding movement when said members are adjacent, a pair of separable members respectively secured to the end of said other cord and slidable on said one cord, means for clamping the slidable separable member adjustably to its associated cord, and means for detachably connecting said separable members by relative rotational movement, the holding tension on said cords being exerted to maintain the separable members against disconnection.

5. In a device for detachably securing the overdetachment.

lapping ends of flexible cords or the like together, the combination of a pair of pivotally joined coacting sections, means for securing one of said sections to the end portion of a first cord, the other of said sections having a bore therein through which the other cord slidably extends, means for detachably securing said sectionsin an adjacent relationship including means for preventing sliding movement of said other cord through said bore when the sections are adjacent, said bore having a substantially rounded internal surface facilitating sliding movement of said cord through said section, and means for securing the end of said other cord to an intermediate portion of said one cord.

6. Securing means of the character described comprising, in combination, a pair of flexible members having end portions arranged to be placed in substantially side by side relation, a first connector means slidably mounted on one member inwardly of its end, a second connecter means permanently mounted for sliding movement on the other member inwardly of'the end thereof, means for securing said second connecter means in a fixed position on said other member, a third connecter means fixed on the end of said one member for detachably connecting such end with the second connecter, and a fourth connecter fixed on the end of said other member for connecting said last mentioned end with said first connecter and including means for restraining said first connecter against sliding movement.

7. In a device for detachably securing the overlapping ends of flexible wrist cords or the like together, the combination of a pair of clasps comprising respectively a pair of similar hinged cooperating sections and a pair of similar separable cooperating sections, said hinged sections being respectively secured to the end of one cord and slidably mounted on the other cord, one of said separable sections being permanently mounted for sliding movement on said one cord and including means for adjustably securing it in a fixed predetermined position thereon effective to hold the cord tensioned on the wearers wrist after said clasps have been secured,

' the other of said separable sections being secured to the end of said other cord and including easily securable means for attachment to said one section, said other section being of a convenient size adapted to be grasped between the thumb and fingers of the wearer and moved against the tension of the cord into a position for attachment, means for detachably securing said hinged sections in an adjacent relationship, and means for preventing movement of the slidable hinged section on. said other cord when said hinged sections are adjacent whereby to hold said separable sections against accidental FRED M. LUND. JOHN H. LUND. 

